STORY SUMMARY>>>

The city’s plan to build an affordable housing project in downtown Honolulu is drawing fire from area residents because forty percent of the units would be set aside for homeless who are severely or persistently mentally ill.

"I think we have our fair share of these types of problems or mental health issues,” said Downtown Neighborhood Board member Alvin Au during a meeting Thursday night.

Debbie Kim Morikawa, director of the city’s Community Services Department said the project would benefit residents and businesses in the downtown and Chinatown area by getting homeless off the streets.

"The reality is a lot of these individuals are already here and we're just finding them another place to go where they won't be on the public streets and in front of doorways," she said. “Many of these individuals will refuse to go to any housing that is away from the area.”

Morikawa says the city’s request for proposals is being withheld until community concerns can be addressed.

The current plan calls for a non-profit group to run the affordable housing project, which would feature at least a hundred studio and one bedroom type units. Construction would take place on a 27,000 square foot lot near the corner of River Street and N. Kukui Street.

The lot is currently occupied by a two story commercial building which is home to over a dozen businesses, including two mom-and-pop restaurants.

Supporters of the concept say community concerns over another homeless outreach project more then a decade ago, Safe Haven, never panned out.

“I live across the street from Safe Haven and I don't even know that they're there,” said neighborhood board member Dolores Mollring. “I'm sorry everybody that's really upset about this but we've got to start helping one of these days and I think the time is now,” she added.

After nearly two hours of testimony, the board voted to support the affordable housing project as long as the city drops its mandate that forty percent of the units cater to those with severe mental illness.

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.